Klarinet Archive - Posting 000474.txt from 2003/01

From: "Susan Anderson" <qpie@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Restorations
Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2003 17:41:48 -0500

Hello,

I have a clarinet in need of attention. It is a Buffet Academy model 53393.
My father, who played clarinet in the Army Band, bought this clarinet for my
oldest sister when she was in High School, (class of 63). It has been played
by siblings, and their offspring for short durations while they were in
school. It has been in my sister's attic for years.

This past year I asked her to send it to me, hoping my son might practice on
it at home. (He, too plays clarinet in high school, but has always rented
one from the school.) Alas, he does not like the way it plays, and prefers
to use the school's instument, also a Buffet.

So, I have been teaching myself to play it. The instruction I received
during two years of band (in 6th and 7th grade), like a fair weather friend,
quickly disappeared. However, I am resolved to learn, and have been
practicing, right up until yesterday, when a spring(?) fell from one of the
keys.

I had sent it, along with the rest of the High School Band's instruments, to
be "gone over" by the man who works on them before each band season. He
replaced the cork, and some pads, but as far as I could tell, did nothing
more. He spoke no english, so communication was limited to "how much?"

I have been warned that the cost of an overhaul might be more than the value
of the instrument, but my father (long since passed) played it!

I live in the Florida Keys, about 60 miles south of Miami. Lytle Music in
Hollywood, FL has been recommended, but that will involve a good amount of
travel to get it there, then pick it up. Does anyone know of a place I could
take it, in the very southern corner of Florida? Is it safe to mail it, and
how would I go about doing that? Keep in mind that not only would I be
devasted at the loss of this instrument, my siblings would lynch me.

Thanks for your help,

Susan

----------
>From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] Restorations
>Date: Sat, Jan 25, 2003, 9:22 AM
>

> At 01:28 AM 1/25/2003 -0500, Vic Brincat wrote:
>>Good to hear that someone else is going to tackle a
>>restoration.
>>
>>I myself am in the process of restoring a couple of
>>clarinets, one of which is a very old Albert system
>>(believed to date back to 1880s. It belonged to my
>>father.
>>
>>Where can I go to get cork sheets, pads of various
>>sizes, springs, and glue?
>>
>>Local repair shops in the Toronto area are not
>>interested in selling these supplies. This is a hobby
>>for me, I'd rather not hsomeonemone else do
>>restorationtion.
>>
>>Thanks in advance for your help.
>
>
>
>
> Ferree's in Battle Creek, MI is one of the main suppliers:
>
> ferreestools@-----.
>
> Allied is the other one:
>
> Allied Supply Corporation
> PO Box 288
> Elkhorn, WI 53121-0288
> Phone: (414) 723-5455
> Fax: (414) 723-2051
>
> I don't think either company is particularly fond of dealing directly with
> small individual customers, as they cater primarily to the trade. I just
> finished an old H. N. White (better known as King) Albert system clarinet
> myself. Fortunately for me, since I work for an instrument dealer, I can
> get stuff from or through our repair shop.
>
>
>
>
> Bill Hausmann
>
> If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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